Plymouth Crown Court Sentencing Results

Explore 127 verdicts at Plymouth Crown Court (Plymouth, Plymouth). Updated with the latest court outcomes.

September 2023 1 case

Thomas Hodge

Assault *

Sentence

22 years imprisonment

Thomas Hodge carried out a vicious assault on Sascha Martine Bennett in her home in North Down Crescent, Keyham on February 8, 2023, causing severe injuries that nearly killed her. This incident involved physical domestic abuse, and Hodge was sentenced following a hearing that Bennett attended.

Sentenced for assaulting Sascha Martine Bennett; the court heard that she had taken pity on him due to the death of his mother.

3 Sep 2023

June 2023 1 case

Sammy Jo Dillon

Burglary and Fraud *

Sentence

52 months imprisonment and a seven-year Criminal Behaviour Order prohibiting unsupervised contact with persons over 60 years

In June 2023, Sammy Jo Dillon burgled and defrauded an elderly blind couple and stole from an 80-year-old man with Parkinson's who was described in court as 'effectively housebound'. This led to her arrest and subsequent sentencing.

Handed down following a series of burglaries and frauds against elderly victims, including an elderly blind couple and an 80-year-old man with Parkinson's.

1 Jun 2023

March 2022 1 case

Unnamed Iraqi Man

People Smuggling *

Sentence

Avoided jail

An Iraqi man arranged an illegal boat crossing using a yacht that carried a family with a 10-month-old baby, demonstrating reckless endangerment of vulnerable migrants.

Suspended sentence or community order implied for arranging illegal boat crossing.

3 Mar 2022

January 2019 1 case

Danny Cahalane

Conspiracy to supply cocaine and money laundering *

Sentence

8 years imprisonment

Danny Cahalane was sentenced for his involvement in conspiracy to supply cocaine and money laundering, offenses committed prior to his imprisonment starting in 2009. He was released in May 2015 after serving part of his sentence.

For conspiracy to supply cocaine and money laundering. Sentenced while in custody at HMP Dartmoor.

1 Jan 2019

December 2016 1 case

Paul Perry

Breach of gas safety regulations *

Sentence

10 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months

Paul Perry, a 65-year-old buy-to-let landlord from Clarence Place, Morice Town, attempted to repair a gas pipe leading to the cooker in a rental property on St Levan Road, Plymouth, which he had rented to a young family for seven years. Unqualified and not a member of the Gas Safety Register, his work resulted in a gas leak detected by a qualified engineer, who alerted the Health and Safety Executive. Perry had also failed to conduct the legally required annual gas safety checks. The incident risked a fatal gas explosion, endangering tenants' lives.

Pleaded guilty to doing work at his tenanted properties without being a member of the Gas Safety Register. Ordered to pay costs of £4,000. Judge commented on the risks of faulty gas appliances and the legal duty to ensure safety.

19 Dec 2016

September 2010 1 case

Sakiasi Ratu

Dangerous driving and driving under the influence of alcohol *

Sentence

Banned from driving for 18 months and fined £750 for dangerous driving and £250 for driving under the influence of alcohol

On 9 September 2007, in the early hours, Sakiasi Ratu, who was twice the drink drive limit, drove his blue Peugeot 306 and mounted the pavement outside the Two Trees pub on Union Street in Plymouth, knocking down four pedestrians who were waiting for a taxi. The victims were thrown into the air and across the road. Tracey Rowe, 28, suffered severe head injuries including a fractured skull, bruising to the brain, and blood clots, spending weeks in critical condition with a 30% chance of survival. Louise Crane suffered a broken back. One unnamed man had minor injuries, and the other, a serving Royal Marine, was unable to train properly and was assigned a desk job.

Pleaded guilty to all charges. Judge Francis Gilbert QC noted that Ratu was of previous good character, had an impeccable military record, and financially supported his disabled father and brother in Fiji. The judge stated that the incident was out of character and sending him to prison was not in anyone's interest.

1 Sep 2010

May 2001 1 case

Steven Richards

Murder *

Sentence

life imprisonment

Steven Richards, then 31, raped and murdered 18-year-old Frances Nethercott at his flat in Plymstock on January 20, 2001. He had expressed interest in her shortly after she started working at the Lidl supermarket in Plymouth city centre. On the night of the murder, they left the store together and took a taxi to his flat in Jennycliff. Frances was sexually assaulted, strangled with cable ties around her neck, and her body was found wrapped in a black bin liner inside a holdall, with tape over her eyes and nose. Her clothing and bag were left in the hallway. Richards attempted to dispose of the body at Fort Stamford but was arrested the next day at a hotel in Exeter.

Pleaded guilty to murder. Judge William Taylor described him as a wholly inadequate human being unable to form meaningful relationships, with lust at any price at the forefront of his mind. The killing was of a sexual nature and the victim died in terrifying circumstances.

22 May 2001

Date Not Specified 20 cases

Tom Fletcher

Sexual activity with a child *

Sentence

7 years imprisonment

Tom Fletcher sexually touched two underage girls (a 15-year-old groped in the street and a 14-year-old with whom he had full sex after she ran away from home) and contacted several more underage girls including an 11-year-old on social media such as Snapchat and Instagram, grooming them, requesting explicit pictures, sending indecent videos, and emotionally manipulating them despite warnings from his mother and a friend.

Pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual activity with a child, one of sexual communication with a child and one of inciting a child to watch a sexual act. Judge Anna Richardson ruled that Fletcher posed a significant risk of serious harm to the public.

1 Jan 0001

Sam Evans

Rape *

Sentence

14 years in custody and four years on licence

Sam Evans, 29, of Plymouth, met the victim on Tinder and took her back to his flat in the early hours of July 3, 2022, after bumping into her during a night out. He ordered her to remove clothing, sexually assaulted and raped her, strangled her until she could hardly breathe, slapped her repeatedly, urinated on her, gagged and spat on her during a prolonged and terrifying ordeal that left her fearing for her life and caused devastating long-term impact.

Found guilty of one count of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and one count of intentional strangulation. Previous good character with impeccable military career in 29 Commando, Royal Artillery Regiment. Displayed genuine remorse and wrote apology letter to judge. Judge described attack as utterly savage, stuff of nightmares.

1 Jan 0001

Shaun Harrison

Rape and indecent assault *

Sentence

12 years imprisonment

Shaun Harrison, 46, of Orchard Road, Plymouth, was sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court for historical sexual offences. In September 1989, he dragged a 16-year-old girl into an alleyway in Plymouth city centre, raping her and committing two counts of indecent assault. He was also convicted of raping another woman in 1994. The case was resolved using DNA evidence, bringing closure to long-standing investigations. At the same hearing, he received an 8-year custodial sentence for the 1989 offences and a further 4 years for the 1994 rape, making a total of 12 years' imprisonment.

Denied charges but found guilty at trial. DNA evidence secured convictions after cold case review. Devon and Cornwall Police praised for persistence.

1 Jan 0001

Nicholas Pennell

Stalking *

Sentence

Community order with 150 hours unpaid work, restraining order, £1,030 costs and £200 compensation

Nicholas Pennell, the former chief executive of Plymouth and District Mind, stalked a 29-year-old woman for three months. He followed the woman home from work in his car and continued to follow her even after she changed her route home. The victim took down his car's registration number and reported him to the police. Pennell resigned from his position following his arrest in September 2013.

Pleaded guilty. Judge Geoffrey Mercer accepted Pennell had no sinister intent but said his obsession frightened the victim and caused her real distress. Pennell, the former chief executive of Plymouth and District Mind, is receiving therapy and counselling. Also given a restraining order banning contact with the victim.

1 Jan 0001

Rainer Morgan-Kavanaugh

Theft *

Sentence

2 years suspended for 2 years, 200 hours unpaid work, £3000 compensation

Rainer Morgan-Kavanaugh, a paramedic, stole three pieces of equipment—an ECG machine, a respiration rate monitor and an oxygen cylinder—valued at around £3,000 from the South Western Ambulance NHS Trust between July 2019 and September 2020 during the Covid pandemic. Another paramedic made test purchases from the defendant's eBay account for items stolen by him. Police searched his home and found items in his garage.

Admitted theft. No previous convictions. Claimed he had taken the items after walking into a store at an ambulance station.

1 Jan 0001

Logan Hendry

Attempted robbery *

Sentence

3 years in prison

Logan Hendry entered Lidl supermarket in Woolwell, Plymouth, at around 12.10pm on Friday August 16, pulled a balaclava over his face and threatened a female member of staff at a checkout till with a knife. She refused to give him money. He then threatened a male member of staff and a woman customer, demanding money. A male customer hit him with a battery recycling container, and with help from staff, they ushered him out while he tried to slash them with the knife and kicked out. The male customer sustained a small cut to his arm. Hendry fled, was later located driving towards Yelverton, failed to stop for police, abandoned his vehicle and was arrested in a wooded area by a police dog unit.

Pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, wounding with intent, threatening a person with a bladed article in a public place, taking a motor vehicle without consent and a number of driving offences, including failing to stop for police.

1 Jan 0001

Martin Mcdonagh

Failing to surrender to custody *

Sentence

six weeks in prison

Martin McDonagh, 26, from Plymouth, fled to Ireland 9 days before he was due in court in February 2017, resulting in conviction in absence for fly-tipping and this additional sentence upon extradition for failing to surrender to custody. He had offered to take rubbish to the tip for cash but dumped it at 18 countryside locations over 12 months, including concrete rubble and asbestos in Teignmouth.

Additional sentence for failing to surrender to custody. Ordered to begin serving original 20 months imprisonment imposed in absence in February 2017 for fly-tipping. Pleaded guilty to fly-tipping at 18 locations over 12 months. Described by judge as a persistent offender. Van seized and destroyed.

1 Jan 0001

Dwayne Arney

Causing death by dangerous driving *

Sentence

12 years imprisonment

On 17 December 2024, Dwayne Arney drove an Audi A4 Quattro at speeds between 81 and 85mph in a 30mph zone on Ham Drive, Plymouth, in the wrong lane. He ignored his passenger's pleas to slow down, lost control after passing a parked ambulance, and collided head-on with Rosemary Wooldridge's Ford Fiesta, killing her at the scene. Arney, who was under the influence of drugs, had no licence or insurance, fled the scene, and was later arrested at his home where he attempted to swallow cocaine. He had admitted the offences at Plymouth Crown Court.

Pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, causing death whilst unlicenced and uninsured, and possession of a Class A drug. Judge Robert Linford described the driving as "ludicrous" and post-crash behaviour as "cowardly and callous". Also banned from driving for 18 years.

1 Jan 0001

Gary Arthur Allen

Assault causing actual bodily harm and indecent assault *

Sentence

five and a half years imprisonment

Thirty-five days after his acquittal in the Samantha Class murder trial, Allen assaulted two sex workers in Plymouth. He was apprehended after one of his victims fought back and a nearby police officer heard her cries for help.

Convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm and indecent assault.

1 Jan 0001

Jake Pennington

Wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm *

Sentence

4 years imprisonment

On 16 April 2023 in the early hours, Jake Pennington visited Jesters nightclub on Union Street in Plymouth. After being attacked inside by another man, door staff intervened to eject both. In the foyer at around 3.30am Pennington produced a knife (possibly a Stanley knife) and slashed two doormen, causing cuts to wrists, thumb, stomach, thigh and knee plus psychological harm. He fled but was later identified and arrested. He had two prior convictions for carrying a bladed article.

Pleaded guilty to one count of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, one count of wounding without intent, one count of possession of a bladed article and one count of common assault. Judge noted previous convictions for carrying a bladed article. Also received a five-year ban from Jesters nightclub.

1 Jan 0001

Joe Pearson

Rape and sexual activity with children *

Sentence

19-year prison sentence with a further six years on extended licence

The abuse took place in Plymouth between 2019 and 2020 and involved three victims, one of whom was just 12 years old at the time of the offence. The two other victims were teenagers at the time of the offences.

Found guilty of three counts of rape and three counts of sexual activity with children following a nine-day trial. Will be put on the sex offenders register for life. Described as a 'sexual predator' by Detective Sergeant Chris Kinski.

1 Jan 0001

Jason Hawkins

Rape *

Sentence

11 years imprisonment

Jason Hawkins, then 48, lured a 14-year-old schoolgirl from the West Midlands via the StarMaker app, drove to pick her up from near her home in Dudley, and took her to his caravan at a campsite in Devon where he sexually abused and raped her. He threw her phone in a river, overpowered her despite her protests, and engaged in a manipulative, controlling relationship involving sexualised discussions and images. Police tracked him via details on the girl's computer. Hawkins had contacted police previously claiming she was abused by someone else.

Pleaded guilty to rape, sexual activity with a child, child abduction, and meeting a child following sexual grooming. No previous convictions. Indefinite restraining order, ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and lifetime on Sex Offender Register. Judge Simon Carr described the defendant's depravity.

1 Jan 0001

Joshua Pope

Making indecent images of children *

Sentence

8 months imprisonment suspended for 2 years, with 100 hours unpaid work

Joshua Pope, 27, a former class teacher at Saltash Community School in Cornwall, was convicted of three counts of making indecent images of children. He downloaded approximately 800 images over a two-year period, including 276 Category A (210 moving), 214 Category B (127 moving), and 296 Category C (25 moving). The images spanned many years, continuing until 5 March 2023. Pope, of Lancaster Gardens, Plymouth, was arrested after Devon and Cornwall Police seized his devices following referrals from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children about indecent images linked to his cloud storage. In police interview he initially claimed he had stumbled upon the images accidentally, then admitted clicking on links due to boredom and loneliness, insisting he had no sexual interest in children but acknowledged the accounts were his and that he had downloaded more material a week before his arrest. Pope taught at Saltash Community School from September 2022 until May 2023, and was arrested at his home two months after leaving the school.

Former teacher at Saltash Community School. Convicted on three counts of making indecent images. Judge Peter Johnson remarked that Pope had been 'a party to the sexual abuse of children by creating the demand which leads to these children being abused,' and described the lasting harm caused. Also banned from teaching for life by the Teaching Regulation Agency.

1 Jan 0001

Jordan Goody

Causing death by dangerous driving *

Sentence

6 years imprisonment and 6-year driving ban extended to 9 years with extended driving test requirement

On February 5, 2024, Jordan Goody, 26, of Higher Efford Road, Plymouth, was pulling wheelies and overtaking cars on a KTM motorbike on Beacon Park Road when he hit 80-year-old war veteran Dilwyn Durham, who suffered life-threatening injuries and died in hospital three days later. Goody fled the scene. He was identified, arrested, charged, denied the offence but found guilty by a jury on April 10, 2026.

Found guilty by a jury after denying the offence. Riding uninsured, unlicensed KTM motorbike without number plate. Fled the scene.

1 Jan 0001

Joseph Powney

Controlling and coercive behaviour in an intimate relationship *

Sentence

3 years imprisonment

Joseph Powney, a 35-year-old man from Plymouth, subjected his intimate partner to controlling and coercive behaviour over approximately 10 months, including numerous assaults and strangulations, resulting in physical injuries and trauma. In September 2024, police were called to his victim's home, finding her injured outside; Powney had fled but later handed himself in. He lied about the cause of her injuries, suggesting they were work-related or self-inflicted.

Pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour. A seven-year restraining order was also imposed.

1 Jan 0001

Alfie Middleton-Smith

Possession with intent to supply class A drugs and possession of a bladed article *

Sentence

29 months at a Young Offenders Institution

On an unspecified date, 19-year-old Alfie Middleton-Smith was spotted by plain-clothes officers in Plymouth carrying out a suspected drug deal. He was arrested leaving a property in Southside Street on the Barbican. Officers found 32 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin in a Kinder egg inside his shoulder bag, £195 cash, a Nokia phone linked to a County Lines operation (TJ line), and a six-inch knife in his waistband. He had been assaulted five days earlier and claimed the knife was for self-defence. He had previous convictions including possession of a bladed article, assault on an emergency worker and battery.

Pleaded guilty to three offences. Early guilty plea noted. Background of troubled childhood, care system, drug addiction and recent assault taken into account. Two prior bladed article offences and breach of suspended sentence and conditional discharge.

1 Jan 0001

Anthony Young

Sexual assault by penetration *

Sentence

5 years and 4 months' imprisonment with extended licence of 4 years (total extended sentence of 9 years and 4 months)

Anthony Young sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl by penetration and engaged in sexual activity with her between October 2010 and January 2014. He also made three counts of indecent photographs of children in 2014 and 2015, including 100 images with nine in the most severe category. His actions drove the victim to self-harm and panic attacks, causing long-term PTSD. Arrested in May 2020 after old images found on his phone.

Pleaded guilty but showed no remorse, describing plea as 'just to get it over with'. Ruled a dangerous offender, to serve two-thirds before release. Placed on Sex Offender Register for life and given indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

1 Jan 0001

Craig Harrison

Manslaughter *

Sentence

five years and four months imprisonment

Craig Harrison, aged 46 and homeless, was drunk by 6.40am when he followed 69-year-old Tim Smith from Paignton bus station and punched him once outside a shop in Victoria Road, Paignton, in March 2021. Mr Smith suffered a bleed on the brain, deteriorated over the following days, and died on March 27 after brain surgery failed to save him. Harrison had been drinking three bottles of vodka a day and was living in a tent in a graveyard.

Admitted manslaughter. Judge Robert Linford noted the utterly senseless, motiveless violence, prior convictions for similar offences, and that Harrison was paralytic and aggressive. Defence cited alcohol and heroin addiction, suspected personality disorder, and PTSD from childhood abuse; Harrison expressed remorse.

1 Jan 0001

Barry John Michael Ferguson

Making or downloading indecent images of children *

Sentence

3-year community order with sex offender treatment programme and Rehabilitation Activity Requirement supervision course

Barry John Michael Ferguson, of West Down Road, Beacon Park, Plymouth, Devon, downloaded hundreds of indecent images of children, including over 300 Category A films showing infants as young as 18 months being raped or having sex with animals, between October 2015 and May 2021. Images found on laptop and hard drive after police search on June 2, 2021, prompted by IP address link. Confessed to viewing for 7-8 years starting after first marriage break-up. Search history showed searches for child abuse material.

Pleaded guilty to three counts. No previous convictions. Cooperated with police. Sought counselling from charity for internet sex offenders. Carer for disabled wife. Ordered to pay £1,200 prosecution costs. 5-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. 5 years on Sex Offender Register. Forfeiture of laptop and hard drive.

1 Jan 0001

Brett Bullock

Rape *

Sentence

4 years' extended imprisonment consecutive to existing 16-year sentence

Brett Bullock, aged 26 at the time, raped an 18-year-old victim twice and a third time as she slept in his hotel room in Plymouth in August 2019. The victim had been drinking and dancing with him but did not consent. She escaped when he fell asleep and informed a friend and hotel staff. He was arrested shortly after and was due to answer bail on other sex charges in Newquay, Cornwall, the same day.

Convicted of three rape offences. Judge Anna Richardson described him as a dangerous offender posing a risk to the public with a pattern of serious sexual offending over six years. Already serving 16 years for prior sex offences against five girls.

1 Jan 0001

Disclaimer: The information on this page is compiled from publicly available court records and published media reports. It is provided strictly for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as a definitive record of any individual's criminal history or legal status.

Offence names marked with an asterisk (*) reflect descriptions used in media reporting and may not correspond to the formal legal charge or indictment. Sentencing details are as reported and may be subject to subsequent appeal, variation, or correction by the courts.

All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The presence of a name on this page does not imply guilt, and some listed individuals may have had convictions overturned, sentences reduced, or charges withdrawn after the date of publication.

We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any court, government body, or law enforcement agency. While we endeavour to ensure the accuracy of all information, we accept no liability for any errors, omissions, or consequences arising from the use of this data. If you believe any entry is inaccurate, outdated, or should be removed, please submit a removal request using the icon on the relevant entry or contact us directly.

No sentences found matching your search.

Showing 101-127 of 127 results

Crown Court

10 Armada Way, Plymouth, Plymouth, PL1 2ER, United Kingdom

+441752677400

www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk

Get Directions

About Plymouth Crown Court

Plymouth Crown Court, located in Plymouth, Plymouth, is a Crown Court that handles serious criminal cases including murder, rape, robbery, and other indictable offences. With 127 sentencing records in our database, it is one of the Crown Courts serving the Plymouth, Plymouth area. Crown Courts sit with a judge and jury, and have the power to impose the full range of sentences available under UK law.

The court can be found at 10 Armada Way, PL1 2ER.

For enquiries about cases heard at this court, you can contact the court by telephone on +441752677400 or visit the official court website for further information.

All sentencing information published on this page has been sourced from publicly-available records and verified by our editorial team. If you believe any information is inaccurate or should be removed, you can submit a removal request directly from the relevant listing above.